TOPICS OF THE DAY, (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ) London, February 4th. BUSINESS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 196, 26 March 1887, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY, (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ) London, February 4th. BUSINESS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

BUSINESS BEFORE FARIXAMENT. The debate on tbo address dragged monotDnoualy through tho last week, unreliovcd by any notuble incident. Several new members ventured on thsimiaiden speeches and one at least achieved conspicuous sue cess. This was Mr Cuninghame Graham, thememberfor Lanarkshire, a witof tho WilfredLawsontype.whomanagedtoexcitesome hearty laughs by his sallies, but was cordially chpered when he pat down. Another new member mat with a very different sort of reception. This worthy having graduated in the Kensington Parliament, began confidently and fluently. There waa a bumptious " I mean to be heard " air about htm, however, which grated on the House and aggravated its temper. Hon. members grew inattentive and conversational, and when the debutant sat down after speaking for nearly half-an-hour, there was hardly any applause. This failure by one from whom great things had been expected has created considerable surprise, especially in South Kensington, "bio doubt the training of an amateur Parliament is useful in a way, but it by no means follows that because a man with a fluent tongue and an assertive manner manage^ to lead one of them, that ho will achieve succeas in the House of Commons itself. liOrd Randolph Churchill did not, it seems evident, achieve much by hU explanation. Many thought he would have a etrong, if limited, part> at his back before the first week of tho session was over, bub, bar two insignificant new members, none of tho Conservatives evidence any derire to ait at Ma feet One thing, however, appears certain : he won't bo coutent with his present unsatisfactory position long.

" RUDDYGORE." The title of the latest Savoy eucceea is, say the pioua and fastidious folk, unploaeantly suggestive. An over-bold Btranger has even ventured to writo to the great Gilbert himself and remonstrate. lt ßuddygore," he complains, •'practically signifies the same as bloody gore.' " Not at all," replied Mr Gilbert, " the two ideas are entirely distinct ; as, for example, if I was to refer to ycur • ruddy cheek, 5 the expression would con"ey an entirely different meaning to what 1 consider describes the liberty you took in writing to me."

MORE SCANDALS. The society papers are suffering from an attack of divorce on the brain. If half of the rumours afloat were correct, there would b© " sensations " enough and to spare during the coming spring. I fancy, though, they all lefer to tho same caee. An expose of the particular circumstances has been expected a^ain and again, but on each occaaion» just a3 law proceedings seemed inevitable, family friends stepped in and patched up a reconciliation. It is most sincerely to Lo hoped a public &candal can n.ow be avoided, for it would ruin the public career, and blast the reputation of a popular cificer in tho navy. The " iady iv the case," too, happens to be a social star of tho tirst magnitude. Altogether, tbe Campball and Dilke caee3 will have to hide their diminished hevds if this social catastropho ever comes to Court. By-the-way, I hear that "poor dear Mrs Crawford" has found a cbampion in "Guida, 1 ' who means to make her tt.a heroine of her next three-volume "checker." Mdlle. de la Ramee look? upon tna'.riage as an effete and worn-out ioetituticn. In "conversation with a Mend nt tU Laugham Hotel the orher day, nhe rcmai -3d: "People of intellect are above all 1a?, Marriage is only suitable for the lower c'.a-sSj. " So, indeed, recent events would lead u~«io believe.